Football
WILMINGTON – With 7:32 left in the game, Troy Haynes was 0-for-4 passing.
But the freshman quarterback from Woodbridge lofted a perfectly place toss over the fingertips of two Delaware Military Academy defenders, and Bragg Davis pulled it in for a 20-yard touchdown.
Then the Blue Raiders’ defense kept the Seahawks bottled up, and seventh-seeded Woodbridge scored a 12-7 upset over second-seeded DMA in the opening round of the DIAA Division II Football Playoffs on Saturday night at Baynard Stadium.
Woodbridge (8-3) won its sixth in a row and earned a semifinal matchup at top-seeded St. Georges, at a day and time to be announced. The Seahawks completed the best season in school history at 9-2.
The Blue Raiders did much of their damage on the ground behind senior Ju’Wan Massey and junior Terrique Riddick – a pair of tailbacks who both weigh less than 140 pounds. Massey skittered around the edges 21 times for 125 yards, while Riddick ran 18 times for 56 yards.
The Blue Raiders got off to a flying start, as freshman Jamon Kane returned the opening kickoff 57 yards to the DMA 31. Woodbridge took nine plays to find the end zone, getting one first down when the Seahawks jumped offsides and converting a fourth-and-1 with a 2-yard keeper from Haynes.
Fullback Kirby Williams finally punched it in from the 4, but the PAT was blocked after a high snap to leave Woodbridge up 6-0 with 7:43 left in the first quarter.
DMA earned a couple of first downs on its first possession, then went all the way on its next drive. The Seahawks covered 59 yards in 11 plays, gaining a critical first down on a facemask penalty on fourth-and-8. DMA was facing fourth-and-12 when quarterback Jacob Hudson lofted a high-arcing pass into the back right corner of the end zone, and Jeffrey Gillis hauled it in. Daniel Rhoades’ extra point gave DMA a 7-6 lead with 5:18 remaining in the second quarter.
It stayed that way until the Blue Raiders launched their winning drive with 2:48 left in the third quarter. The 70-yard march took 15 plays and 7:16, with a huge play coming on fourth-and-8 at the DMA 36.
Haynes’ pass fell incomplete, but the Seahawks were flagged for holding to give Woodbridge a first down at the 26. Four plays later, the Blue Raiders were facing fourth-and-4 at the 20 when Haynes lofted the go-ahead pass to Davis.
DMA reached the Woodbridge 30 before turning it over on downs with 3:08 to go. The Seahawks got a final chance from their own 44 with 1:16 remaining, but couldn’t make a first down.
DMA managed only 94 total yards, with Hudson completing 5 of 8 passes for 45 yards and Alphaeus Hanson rushing six times for 28 yards.
Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ